Susan Walters Bio
Susan Walters is an American actress and former model whose career spans television, film, and miniseries. She is best known for her daytime roles as Lorna Forbes on Loving from 1983 to 1986 and as Diane Jenkins on The Young and the Restless from 2001 to 2004, with notable returns in 2010 and 2022. Walters has appeared in primetime series and feature films, including Russkies, Hotel, Elvis and Me, Nightingales, Dear John, Seinfeld, Drop Dead Diva, One Tree Hill, and The Vampire Diaries. She has continued working across genres with recurring and guest appearances on shows such as Star-Crossed, Teen Wolf, Reckless, and How to Get Away with Murder, remaining active in the industry from the 1980s to the present.
Early Life and Background
Walters began her entertainment career as a model before transitioning to acting. Her early exposure to performance led her to pursue opportunities in television and film. She developed her craft and built a foundation that would support her transition into acting roles.
Her dedication to the profession and her model background provided her with the visibility needed to launch her acting career in the early 1980s. This period of preparation and skill development positioned her for her breakthrough role in daytime television.
Path to Actress
Walters began her television career playing Lorna Forbes Perelli on the soap opera Loving from the pilot in June 1983 to late 1986. Her first role after Loving was in the 1987 film Russkies. She quickly established herself in the television industry with diverse roles across multiple genres.
Following her success on Loving, Walters booked several prominent television projects. Aaron Spelling hired Walters for multiple productions, including Hotel during its final season from 1987 to 1988, the 1988 television miniseries Elvis and Me portraying Priscilla Presley, and Nightingales from 1988 to 1989. She also appeared in Melrose Place. These roles helped cement her reputation as a reliable television performer capable of handling dramatic and commercial projects.
Susan Walters Career
Early Career (1983–1990)
Walters launched her television career in 1983 when she originated the role of Lorna Forbes Perelli on the ABC daytime soap opera Loving. The character remained a central figure throughout her tenure, which lasted from the pilot episode in June 1983 through late 1986. Her work on Loving established her as a rising talent in daytime television.
Her first major role following Loving came in 1987 with the feature film Russkies, marking her transition from daytime television to mainstream film. This project demonstrated her ability to work beyond the soap opera format and introduced her to broader audiences in the entertainment industry.
Breakthrough (1990–2000)
Walters continued building her television career throughout the 1990s with diverse roles across multiple genres. In 1990, she starred in the prime time series Dear John. She appeared in an episode of Murder, She Wrote in 1993, showcasing her versatility in dramatic television. Her most recognizable role during this period came from her appearances as the character known as “Mulva” (whose real name was Dolores) on Seinfeld, a role she played in episodes that aired in 1993 and again in 1996.
In 1996, Walters starred as Anne Osborne in the television series The Big Easy on USA Network. The late 1990s saw her appear in family-oriented programming, including the Disney Channel movies Horse Sense in 1999 and its 2001 sequel Jumping Ship. In 2000, she portrayed the lead character opposite her husband Linden Ashby in the television series The War Next Door. She also appeared in the short-lived prime time series Point Pleasant and made guest appearances on CSI: Miami during this period.
Notable Works and Milestones
Walters achieved significant recognition through her prominent roles on daytime soap operas. Her portrayal of Diane Jenkins on The Young and the Restless from 2001 through 2004 brought her widespread attention in the daytime television community. She reprised this role in 2010 for two episodes and returned once more beginning in March 2022, extending her association with the long-running CBS soap opera across multiple decades.
Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, Walters maintained a consistent presence on television with recurring and guest roles across popular series. She played Principal Rimkus on One Tree Hill in 2009 and recurred as Carol Lockwood on The Vampire Diaries from 2009 through 2012. Her other notable appearances include roles on Drop Dead Diva in 2009, Star-Crossed in 2014, Reckless in 2014, Teen Wolf as Natalie Martin in 2014, and How to Get Away with Murder in 2015. She also continued her association with Teen Wolf from 2011 through 2017. Her sustained career demonstrates remarkable versatility across drama, comedy, and supernatural genres.
Susan Walters Family
Walters has been married to actor Linden Ashby since 1986. The couple has worked together on multiple occasions, including the television series The War Next Door in 2000 and an episode of Drop Dead Diva in 2009. They have maintained both their personal and professional partnership throughout their marriage. Together, they have two children.
Personal Life
Walters has balanced her acting career with her family life, continuing to work in the entertainment industry while maintaining a stable personal life with her husband and children. She remains active in the industry, taking on guest and recurring roles that showcase her adaptability across different genres of television programming.